Quote
“He has the brains of a cockchafer.” – Marco van Basten on Mo Salah after the latter’s recent outburst. Considering a cockchafer is a destructive plant beetle, this presumably was not a compliment.
Number: 3,552
In Euros, the cheapest ticket for next summer’s World Cup final, seven times dearer than the cheapest at the last tournament.
Seeing double
How are Cameroon’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations going? Not great, to be honest. Put it this way – just 10 days away from their opening game, they have two managers and have named two squads for the tournament.
It had already been an unhappy spell for the nation’s team after they failed to qualify for the World Cup having finished behind Cape Verde in their group and then losing to DR Congo in the playoffs.
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That widened the rift between the Cameroon FA president, the legend that is Samuel Eto’o, and manager Marc Brys, which had already been wide enough. Eto’o then announced that Brys had been sacked and replaced by David Pagou.
So, last week Pagou named his AFCON squad, omitting three of the country’s biggest names – goalkeeper André Onana, former Bayern Munich striker Eric Choupo-Moting and captain Vincent Aboubakar. Then? Brys named his squad, which included Onana, Choupo-Moting and Aboubakar. Are you keeping up?
“As long as there is no signed note from the Presidency of the Republic appointing David Pagou as the coach of the Indomitable Lions, in the eyes of the State of Cameroon, Mr Marc Brys remains,” said, well, Marc Brys. Yes, he’s refusing to be sacked, insisting that Eto’o hadn’t the right to dismiss him.
“It’s unbelievable, but actually, it doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “Eto’o is a narcissist who thinks he’s the best.”
Apart from all that, though, they’re warming up nicely.
Word of mouth
Jamie Carragher: “Have I ever criticised Mo Salah on the pitch?”
David Jones: “Well, a couple of weeks ago you said his legs had gone.”
Jamie: “Eh….’
Awkward.
“Thoughts on the price of the World Cup tickets @rioferdy5? A man of the people would surely call @FIFAcom & Infantino out. Or was your pay packet for the draw to buy your silence?” – Jamie Carragher again, this time somewhat upping the ante in his feud with Rio Ferdinand.
“John is named after John Stones. I got Charles from Prince Charles from Wales. I wanted an English name as well, because I had John already. So I chose Charles as well.” – Yes, Bernardo Silva has dogs called John and Charles.
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All has not been going well for Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, to the point where there’s even talk of the fella being sacked when he was only appointed in June. That chat escalated after the home defeat by Celta Vigo a week ago, Alonso hardly helped by three of his players getting themselves sent off.
Granted, one of them, Endrick, didn’t even play in the game, the Brazilian teenager managing to pick up a red card from the bench for being a bit rude to the fourth official.
Having seen his son play only 20 minutes of La Liga football this season, how peeved is Endrick’s da? Very. “I know, my son, how hard you work and how much you dedicate every minute of your day,” he wrote on social media after the game. “Your star will continue to shine, even though some try to dim your light.”
That, presumably, was a dig at Alonso, as, possibly, was another of his posts. “Matthew Chapter 23:12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
What Alonso needed to exalt himself was a win at home to Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday. But they lost. How sympathetic was Pep Guardiola? “He should pee on his own. I won’t pee for him.” Not a lot.
More word of mouth
“At the end of the day, sport is sport. It demands heart, sacrifice and teamwork. You need determination, you need focus, you need discipline and grit. That’s what makes champions at the end of the day.” – Paul Pogba explaining his latest sporting investment – he’s bought in to a Saudi Arabian camel racing club.
“Maybe a billion pounds?” – David Moyes on being asked what was the difference between Chelsea and his Everton side after their 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
“I don’t think anyone can stop us when we play like this.” – Manchester United youngster Ayden Heaven after a win over ... Wolves. Calm down lad, calm down.
